Pharmacologic Treatment of Hypertension in Adults Aged 60 Years or Older from the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians

Abstract

An elevation in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, known as hypertension, is characterized as a condition where blood pressure values are above the normal values, ranging around 120/80mmHg for most adults. There are two forms of hypertension, primary hypertension and secondary hypertension. Primary or essential hypertension accounts for 90–95% of patients with hypertension, with its etiology unknown, while secondary hypertension accounts for 5–10% of the population, due to chronic kidney disease, endocrine disorders, or usage of ibuprofen or venlafaxine.(1) If left untreated, hypertension can lead to heart attack, stroke, heart failure, vision problems, kidney damage, and a variety of other problems, depending on which vessels it affects. As seen in Figure 1, either having low or high systolic or diastolic blood pressure can be detrimental to one's health. Having low blood pressure can lead to hypoperfusion of vital organs, whereas elevated blood pressure can lead to end organ damage, stroke, and myriad related instances.